Electric socket



Sept. 8, 1936. Y 1 WERlTz 2,053,589

ELECTRIC SOCKET Filed June 13, 1934 Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John lWeritz, Cicero, Ill.

Application June 13, 1934', Scrialf No. "130,505l

4. Claims.

This invention relates toelectric sockets and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It. is a primary purpose ofa the invention to provide a socket wherein the lamp orA similar device is mounted at an. angle to thevsupporting surface, such as av mold-ing strip or other finishing of a room.

Itis. also an object of the invention toV provide a xture of the above speciedv type in which twin sockets are embodied as a uni-tary and com-- pactv structure. A

It is.A a still' further object oi" the invention to provide a simplified construction of electric nxture embodying novel socket shell mounting meansas Well as comprisingt simplified means for wiring the socket. i

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following glo' description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is'a perspective view of a socket constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2` isa vertical section therethrough.

Figure 3i is arear elevation of the socket i1lustrating the wiring arrangement.

Figure Lis a section onthelined- 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5lisa section on the line 5--5- of FigureZ.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of acombined insulating contact mounting block.

Y Figure 7' is a side elevation of a mod-ined formY of-l socket.

` Figure 8 is a vertical section therethrough. Figure 9y is a topplan View thereof, and

Figure 10- illustrates a structure whereby `the sockets may be spaced from the supporting surface morder tovr accommodate lamps of more than the average diameter.

There is illustrated in Figures l to 5 inclusive, a xture generally designated by the reference character lil), which in the present instance is molded as an integral body, from any suitablev insulating material, such asv porcelain. The xture includes a back member Il and tubular open-ended shellereceiving body l2, which may be su-itably reinforced intermediate its length by arib I3; The body I2 isof slightlyless length than the back portion Il, so thatl the end portions extc-nd beyond the body, and respective end portions are apertured as at lf3', for the-purpose V of receiving fasten-ing screws, not shown.

A The back H includes a pair of longitudinally extending channel-ways M defined by a pair of side walls I5- and medial wall- 6, as may be clearlyv seen in Figures' 2, 3, and 4. The walls i5 and- |162 are formed as integral portions of" the fixturebodyI l-(l` and preferably project therefrom, avdlis tance suicientto completely house electric cables or wires when positioned therewithin, as will be explained in greater de-taii hereinafter'.` The medial wall I-E is of substantialwidth and is provided with recesses H and` lil one of each,` opening upon respective channels M. An apenture I8 is formed in each recess opening upon the tubular body l2, one of the apertures bei-ng posh tioned in the middle vertical plane ofthe X-ture Il), lWhile the other aperture is positioned therebelow and in the same plane'. Y

Within the tubular bodyI |12C there is aninsulatorl disk I9, having asquare axial bore receiving a square contact block 20 of a length tol project beyond the disk t9` upony opposite sides thereof'. The disk t9 has an aperture 2| formed thereinadapted to align with a threaded aperture 2-2 formed inY the contact block 20 when assembled therein.

Attention is now invited to Figure 4 of the drawing, wherein it will be seen that av contact plate 23 is seated within the recess' Il', held inv position therewithin by ascrew 24. The screw 2t passesthrough an aperture formedk in the plate 213, andr alignedl apertures iii-2i' and threaded aperture 22'of the contact'block 7211*.A By the construction presented, it will bey apparent that the disk Hi` and Contact block Il1 will be ef` fectivel'y held in position within a medial portion of the xture l0: The block 20 is formed' from sintable metal, such as brass, and inasmuch asJ Y the screw 2li` will be' of' a similar material, these parts'will therefore be electrically connected withY the plate 23. v

From the foregoing description, itV will bel apparent that the tubular body' portion f2 is divided bythe disk I9, defining socket portions 25, these portions having their open ends, presented in opposite directions. Fixed upon opposite sides of the disk i9 by screws y26 there are screw'- threaded socket` shells` 21 and 21,. The shells 21-21 are. electrically connected to. complete the circuitto4 one side of an electromotive source,y and` in the prese-nt. instance, the shell 7.1.` has as;-` sociated therewith a plate inem-ber 28 bifurcated to.- provide legs 29. The legs 2liV aa'e,disp.osed upon opposite sidesy of the contact block 20 and` are apertured to, receive: respective screws'y 26.. The shell 2.1." isl provided with the usuali inward-ly extended flange 3-`llv and the-plate 28 is of a size to overl-ic the ange, so that' with the aperture of the socketA shellsfin alignment with apertures 26 of the disk, upon tightening of thev screws'26 the shells 21--21 will be drawn into snug contacting relation with the disk I9.

The plate 28 comprises a right angular extension 3|, bent so as to lie flush with the back wall II, and in order to accommodate the extension as described, the shell 21 is cut away, as at 32.

A contact plate 33 seated Within the recess I1 is electrically connected with the extension 3| by a screw 34, the screw passing through the rear wall |I by way of the aperture I8 associated with the recess I1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the socket shells 21--21' are securely held in place and that each socket is in electrical circuit with the source of supply, so that each socket is energized irrespective of the other.

The leads 35-35 are laid within respective channels I4 and the leads are bared at points opposite the contact plates 23-33, and respective gripping plates 36, in bearing relation with the plates 23-33 and the bared portions of the leads 35-35 are provided, the plates 36 being secured to respective contact plates by screws 31. Obviously, by tightening the screws 31 the plates 36 will draw the bared wire into engagement with the plates 23--33, one lead establishing connection with the contact block 20, while the other lead completes the circuit through the sockets 21-21'.

Ordinarily, I provide an insulator or spacer plate 38 between the leads 35A-35 and the back II, this plate being substantially the same size as the back I I, but is cut out intermediate its length to permit insertion of the ribs |5-I6 therethrough, and is also provided with apertures 39 for Valignment with respective apertures VI3 of the back.

The number of plates 38 may be increased,` as

indicated in Figure 10, these plates functioning to space the fixture IIJ from its supporting surface, as would be required to accommodate a lamp of more than the average diameter. Y

In order to effectively cover the gripper plates 36, the medial rib I6, at the ends thereof project outwardly a short distance beyond the ribs l5, defining head portions 40, and opposed facesk of the head portions 40 are slotted as at 4|. An insulating strip 42 is slidably retained between the opposed slots, as indicated in Figures 2, 4, and 5) the strip 42 being of a size to completely cover the gripper plates, fastening screws, etc.

In Figures '1, 8 and 9, I have illustrated a modification'of the fixture wherein a single socket is involved, and in this instance, the fixture 5UV includes a back 5|, apertured as at 52 for reception of mounting screws, not shown. A cuplike member 53 is integrally formed with the back member, and-upon the base 54 there is seated an insulator disk 55, similar in every re-V spect to the disk I9, previously described, with the exception that the contact block 56 stops fiush with the supporting surface of the disk.

Channels 51--58 are formed in the back 5|, similar to the channels |1-I1, and apertures 59-60 are provided, extending from respective channels 51-58 to the interior of the cup member 53. A screw 6| engaged through the aperture 59 secures a contact plate 62 within the channel 51, and also passes through the aperture 63 of the disk, and in Vscrew-threaded engagement with an aperture 64 of the contact block 56. The disk and contact block are thus securely held in position lin the fixture. A screw threaded shell 65 is seated upon the disk 55, the

shell having an inturned fiange 66, suitably apertured at diametrically opposite sides, adapted to align with apertures 61 of the disk 55. A bifurcated plate member 68 is positioned within the shell, the legs 69 thereof overlying the iiange 66. The legs 69 have threaded apertures adapted to align with apertures of the flange, and the apertures 61 of the disk 55 and through these aligned apertures a screw 'Ill is passed, and since the screws are in threaded engagement with the legs 69 of the plate 68, the shell 65 and plate 68 will be securely held tothe disk A55.

The plate 68 includes an angular extension 1I, lying flush with the inside wall of the xture, and further has a threaded aperture aligned with the aperture 60, and in order to provide electrical circuit with the plate 68, a contact plate 12 within the channel 58 is fixed thereto by means l shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an electric fixture of extreme simplicity, both as to assembly and installatiomand While I have shown and described preferred constructions thereof it should be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction set forth,rand consider as my own, all

such modications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y v

l. An electric fixture comprising a body having a socket and integrally connected back wall, an insulator disk within the socket, said disk having an opening formed medially and extending axial.

ly of the disk, a contact block mounted in the opening of the .disk of a length to project beyond the ends thereof, sai ddisk and block having aligned apertures, the aperture of the block being threaded, an aperture in the back wall of the fixture in alignment with said first two named apertures, a contact plate mounted in the back wall, said contact plate having an aperture aligned with the first mentioned apertures, a screw extended through the aligned apertures and in threaded engagement with the aperture of the contact block; a socket shell withinthe socket, the shell having an inturned apertured flange adapted to rest upon the disk, the disk having apertures for alignment with the apertures of the iiange, a bifurcated plate member within the shell and positioned upon the iiange, the bifurcated plate member having apertures aligned with the flange and the disk for reception of mounting screws, a second contact plate mounted in the back Wall, apertured to receive a vmounting screw, said screw extending-through the back wall and in threaded engagement with the bifurcated plate, and wire gripper plates associated with each of the contact plates.

2. An electric fixture comprising a body having an open-ended socket and integrally connected back wall, an insulator disk medially of the length of the socket, said disk having an opening formed medially and extending axially of the disk, socket shells mounted upon opposed faces of the disk and electrically connected together, a contact block mounted in the opening of the disk and projecting beyond the faces thereof and disposed medially of the socket shells, an aperture formed in the disk, an aperture formed in the back wall in alignment therewith, a pair of contact plates mounted in the Wall, a screw extended through one of said plates and aligned apertures of the wall and disk and in screwthreaded engagement with the contact block, said other contact plate being electrically connected with one of the socket shells, and wire gripper plates associated with each of said contact plates.

3. An electric xture comprising a body having an open-ended socket and integrally connected back wall, a pair of contact plates mounted in the back wall, an insulator disk positioned medially of the length of the socket, said disk having a square opening extending axially therethrough, socket shells mounted upon opposed faces of the disk and electrically connected together, one of the sockets being electrically connected with one of the contact plates, a contact block mounted in the opening of the disk and complemental thereto and projecting upon opposite sides thereof and medially of said socket shells, a mounting screw associated with the otherV contact plate and extending through the back wall, and disk, and in screw-threaded engagement with the contact block, contact gripper plates associated with said contact plates, channel-ways formed in the backwall for reception of electrical leads, said wall further having head members of a height slightly greater than the channel-ways, said vhead members having opposed slots for slidably receiving an insulator cover plate. 1

4. An electric fixture comprising a one-piece open-ended body having a back wall, an insulator disk positioned medially of the length of the body, said disk having a substantially large angular opening extending axially therethrough, a substantially large angular contact block snugly mounted in the opening, said block being of a length to project beyond the ends of the disk whereby to present broad contact surfaces, said disk and block having aligned apertures, the aperture of the block being threaded, a pair of contact plates mounted in the back wall, one of said plates having an aperture aligned with an aperture in the back wall and said rst two named apertures, a screw extended through aligned apertures and in threaded engagement with the block, a socket shell mounted upon each face of the disk, said shells having inwardly turned anges, a bifurcated plate member within one of the shell members and positioned upon the flange thereof, fastening means extended through the plate, anges and disk member for electrically connecting the shells together, said bifurcated plate having an angular extension in electrical connection with the other of said contact plates. 30

JOHN WERITZ. 

